Tag: textiles
Mimiremi Textiles; Proudly Hand Printed In Lagos, Nigeria
The African culture is rich, strong, colorful, diverse and powerful. Mimiremi textiles new collection of prints
How To Still Stay Stylish On A Budget: Men's Fashion
We always want to look trendy but at times our budget and sense of style do not add up. I would be showcasing some form of men’s fashion guide that has worked for me over the years. Enjoy!
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Meet The Founder Of Mimiremi Textiles | Exclusive Interview
Throughout my journey with Bellafricana, I have been able to meet with and learn about amazing creatives, who have a thing for transforming the most normal and insignificant things and making them look absolutely beautiful. One of such creatives is Aderonke Jaiyeola. Founder of Mimiremi Textiles. (more…)
Indigo Dye
Indigo dye was the foundation of numerous textile traditions throughout West Africa. For centuries before the introduction of synthetic dyes the ability to transform everyday white cotton into prized deep blue cloth was a mysterious and highly valuable skill passed on by specialist dyers from generation to generation. From the Tuareg nomads of the Sahara to the grassland kingdoms of Cameroon, indigo cloth signified wealth, abundance and fertility.
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Chinese Counterfeits Plague Ghana Textile Sector
Stephen Badu, marketing director of Ghanaian fabric company Premium African Textiles, recently told the Christian Science Monitor that pirated designs—predominantly from China—make up about 60 percent of all textiles sold in Ghana and often retail for half the price of authentic product, forcing several local manufacturers to close in recent years.
The Story Of Kente Ghanaian Textile
Kente Ghanaian textile is from Ghana, a country located in West Africa. Kente is a cloth worn by royalty. It is hand woven just like the Aso-oke (Nigerian textile) in wooden looms and is of very high worth. It comes in a variety of patterns, colours and designs, each of which have different meanings.
According to Ghanaian mythology, Kente textile was first made when two friends watched how a spider wove its web. They created the Kente cloth by mimicking the actions of the spiders. It is said that this story, whether true or not, shows the harmony between Ghanaians and Mother Nature.
Looking back in the olden times, the Kente cloth is reserved for the Kings and is associated with royalty and sacredness. Even in recent times, it is worn only during important times. Though the cloth has widespread acceptance and usage it is still held in high esteem among the Akan tribe and the Ghanaians in general.
The Kente cloth is one of the most famous and wanted fabric in the whole of Africa. For the Ghanaians, this represents the history, philosophy, oral literature, religious beliefs, political thought and aesthetic principles of life.
Choosing And Maintaining Your Aso-Oke Nigerian Fabric
Nowadays, Aso-oke seems to be worn by both the Yorubas and the non-Yorubas. Even the westerners are experimenting with it and some don’t have an idea of where to start from. For many, countless questions abound such as:
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Gonja Cloth From Ghana
The recognized capital of Gonja cloth making is Daboya, one of the oldest settlements in Ghana. Gonja cloth is made with cotton cloth strips of about four inches wide, joined together to make a large piece of cloth.
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Aso-Oke Inspired Tie By Ty-Tys
Aso-oke has in recent times become more versatile in its use and is no longer limited to its traditional uses. The cloth is fast evolving into the fabric of choice for cutting edge fashion and trendy accessories in different countries and world regions.
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A Typical Yoruba Wedding Attire
Bride and Groom Attire
In a typical Yoruba marriage, Aso-Oke is fabric of choice. It is the Yoruba ceremonial cloth. It is considered the pinnacle of all fabrics for Yoruba people on occasions like weddings, birthdays, celebrations of life of deceased parents, chieftaincy title ceremonies, and any other important commemorations.
This Aso-Oke is hand woven with special thread that has been soaked in home-made dye. That was before this age of new technology. The three main colours of Aso-Oke fabrics are:
- Al’aari: rich maroon
- Etu: navy blue
- Sanyan: very light brown with strips of cream
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